I have posted the Fall class schedule on the website and SMU is scheduled to open registration on August 1, 2008. 

The Fall is always a challenging time to schedule classes with kids heading back to school and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  Even so, you'll notice some exciting changes in the schedule. 

• Based on the survey results and class feedback, I'm including more hands on time in the photography technique classes; Discovering The Secrets, Studio Lighting and Point, Shoot WOW!.
• I've added Great Travel Photography, a class for those that want to bring home more than just memories from their travels.
• Another new class is Photoshop for the Holidays.  Learn to use Photoshop to create a variety of holiday projects including greeting cards, special holiday brushes, holiday party name tags, holiday bookmarks and much more.
• Don't forget the 8th Annual Digital Revolution Seminar held on the first Saturday in November.

What Happened to Photoshop CS Classes?

The Fall semester Photoshop CS classes have been the victim of a paradigm shift. 

I don't know if it's a requirement or not but all students at SMU now have their own computers and the school is shifting from computer lab environments to classrooms wired for laptops with power and network plugs at each desk. 

The computer lab that we've been using for the past ten years is still there but funding for current licenses of software has been drastically cut.  I have committed to purchase Photoshop Elements licenses for each of the workstations but the cost of upgrading the CS version to the current CS3 is too much.  

In the survey I sent out last month, 73% of you who responded indicated that you would be able to bring your own laptop to the class.  With this in mind, I intend to add Photoshop CS classes but students will need to bring their own laptops with Photoshop installed. 

It was too late to add any classes in the Fall schedule so if I can add a class it will be in addition to the published catalog.  To help me determine if there is interest in such a class, please send me an email indicating that you are interested in the class.  Also indicate if you can or can not bring your own laptop with Photoshop CS3 installed. 

[Click Here To Send Me An Email]

Celebrating 10 Years of Teaching

This Fall I'll be celebrating 10 years of teaching photography at SMU. In the Fall of 1998 - way back when film was king - I developed a class called Discovering The Secrets of GreatPhotography. 

As you know a lot has changed over the years with photography and my educational programs.  I now offer classed in photography techniques and digital editing. 

Although we don't have accurate records from the early years of the program, it's estimated that I've taught over 2,000 students and several of these students have gone on to become successful professional photographers.

In 2000 I offered a single workshop in Grand Teton National Park.  Since then these popular small group workshop have traveled to Olympic National Park, Arches National Park, the Canadian Rockies, Colorado Rockies, Texas Hill Country and Smoky Mountains National Park. 

In 2007 I introduced a new weekend retreat format which has become so popular that you'll see many more in the 2009 schedule. 

It's a great feeling to be doing something that you love to do and I thank you all for trusting me with your photography education. 

4 for 4

The results have just been published and I'm delighted to tell you that I have gone 4 for 4 in the Professional Photographers of America's (PPA) International Print Competition.  Photographers can enter up to four images into the competition and I have had all four of my images awarded Merits meaning that they have been accepted into the International Exhibition of Professional Photography.

Three of the four prints have been accepted into the General Collection and one even received the prestigious honor of being accepted into the Loan Collection.  

This year's exhibition is held in conjunction with Imaging USA and will be held January 11 - 13, 2009 at the Phoenix Convention Center.  Imaging USA is an annual convention of over 8,600 professional photographers from several photographic associations. 

My Loan Print is called Heaven and Earth and is an image that what was captured at Arches National Park.  You may not recognize the arch without a little imagination.  It is a vertical stitched panoramic - the first image was shot directly in front of me and the following images shot in a arc over my head until the camera was almost pointed directly behind me. 

If you adjust the perspective you may recognize Double Arch in The Windows section of the park. 

Want a Pro Gig?

I have been contacted by a corporate interior design firm who is looking for a photographer to shoot some building interiors.  They have limited to no budget for the photography but will cover expenses.  If your interested in the experience contact Ty Walsworth at 972-619-2942.

Using Auto Focus

At my age, one of the most difficult things to do is focus but thanks to today's camera technology autofocus solves this problem.  But camera auto focus system do far more than just bring your images into sharp relief.

Most digital SLR cameras allow you to change the point on which the camera will auto focus.  This allows you to compose images with the subject off center such as this image of Kelli.  In this example, you can see nine distinct auto focus points.  In some cases, the camera will automatically select the focus point based on an analysis of the scene or through facial recognition. 

In this case, I manually set the focus point since I was using flash to balance the exposure.  When using a flash, much of the flash exposure is based upon the focus point which provides distance information and tells the camera’s evaluative meter what should be weighted more heavily in the exposure calculation. 

** Note: Don't get

Photographers have borrowed many studio lighting techniques to help with flash photography.  In a studio, a photographer uses light modifiers such as umbrellas, reflectors and light boxes to change the quality of light produced by studio strobes.  These same products can be used with smaller flash units.

You can find a wide variety of light modifies available in your local camera store and online; each producing a different quality of light and, unfortunately, some more effective than others. 

Built into many flash units, you can find diffusers that help spread the light.  This allows for the use of wider angle lenses and also helps provide a more balanced light when used in an enclosed area where the light can bounce off the walls and ceiling.  These same units may also include pop-up bounce cards that will help bounce more light toward the subject.  Such cards effectively produce catch lights on many subjects.

Many of these light bouncing techniques can be used while the flash is attached to the camera.  The flash head can usually rotate horizontally and tilt vertically allowing you to direct the flash toward a reflective surface.

Another effective option that can be added to the flash is an off-camera cord, allowing full TTL operation off the camera.  Such a cord gives you incredible creative freedom.  By moving the flash away from the camera, you are able to accentuate the texture of the subject as well as provide a sense of depth in your composition. In the image above, Griff is in the window, illuminated by a flash unit held off camera using an off-camera cord.  Also, the flash was zoomed in to create more of a spot light effect.

Use your flash creatively.  One of the most valuable tools you can have in your bag is the off camera cord.  You should use it frequently.   

Canadian Rockies Workshops

This is a must see location for any photographer

The original workshop sold out so quickly that I added a second session.  After some juggling between the session, there are now a limited number of seats in both workshops.  I do, however, expect both sessions to sell out so don't delay.

By the middle of September you'll be tired of the heat and the Canadian Rockies will be a treasured respite from the sweltering thermometer.

The two sessions are now..

• September 10 - 14 (Wednesday - Sunday)
• September 14 - 18 (Sunday - Thursday)